Concert in New Town
Still catching up on my posts. Want to spend a few minutes on the final concert in New Town, which gets mixed reviews, according to me.
On the one hand, it was exciting to have so many African artists on one bill. (K'naan, Randy P, Lady B, Emmanuel Jal, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji, Young Nations, Bhubesii, Zuluboy, Proverb and more.) The music was soooo good and the audience was loving the acts (especially K'naan and Proverb).
But on the other hand, the show cost 90 rands (about $15 ), and so most South African youth couldn't afford to get in. There was a large crowd gathered outside the gates, pushing on the fence. It's never a good feeling to be on the opposite side of the fence from people, but it's especially upsetting in a country with a history like South Africa. All of the artists that I interviewed were troubled by that and wished that the show was free.
Guru from Gangstarr headlined. He didn't seem to pick up on the vibe of the concert (one of empowerment and peace) and came on stage all thugged out with "super producer" Solar in tow, swearing and acting all aggy. It didn't really fly with the crowd. A lot of people thought that his set was wack. A lot of African rappers (who have experienced incomprehensible levels of violence) aren't feeling the gangsta routine at all.
Emmanuel Jal rocking Joburg. His album Ceasefire is amazing. Emmanuel has an incredible story (he was a child soldier in Sudan), but he prefers to be known for his music.
MC and visual artist Breeze hosted the show, along with Lee from YFM.
On the one hand, it was exciting to have so many African artists on one bill. (K'naan, Randy P, Lady B, Emmanuel Jal, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji, Young Nations, Bhubesii, Zuluboy, Proverb and more.) The music was soooo good and the audience was loving the acts (especially K'naan and Proverb).
But on the other hand, the show cost 90 rands (about $15 ), and so most South African youth couldn't afford to get in. There was a large crowd gathered outside the gates, pushing on the fence. It's never a good feeling to be on the opposite side of the fence from people, but it's especially upsetting in a country with a history like South Africa. All of the artists that I interviewed were troubled by that and wished that the show was free.
Guru from Gangstarr headlined. He didn't seem to pick up on the vibe of the concert (one of empowerment and peace) and came on stage all thugged out with "super producer" Solar in tow, swearing and acting all aggy. It didn't really fly with the crowd. A lot of people thought that his set was wack. A lot of African rappers (who have experienced incomprehensible levels of violence) aren't feeling the gangsta routine at all.
Emmanuel Jal rocking Joburg. His album Ceasefire is amazing. Emmanuel has an incredible story (he was a child soldier in Sudan), but he prefers to be known for his music.
MC and visual artist Breeze hosted the show, along with Lee from YFM.
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